The Pig Edge

Latest Episodes:

How to cut energy costs on farm Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

On the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast, Ciarán Carroll discusses energy use on pig farms. Ciarán is joined by Damien Fowley and David Fitzgerald from Exemplar Energy Solutions to find out about the main contributors of energy use on pig farms, where savings and efficiencies can be made, and whether renewable energy could be a solution on farm. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The Key Strategies Required to Optimise Lactation Feed Intakes Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

On the latest episode of the Pig Edge, Emer McCrum, Teagasc Pig Development Officer, discusses how farmers should go about optimising lactation feed intakes. Emer explains how optimising lactation feed intakes ensures sows consume sufficient feed on a daily basis to meet their maintenance and milk production requirements, minimises sow weight loss during lactation and optimises litter performance. She also outlines in detail the key strategies required to optimise intakes and maximise pig performance. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Mycotoxins and their impact on pig performance Jul 17, 2020

Show notes

Mycotoxins and their impact on pig performance is the topic for this episode of the Pig Edge and presenter Ciaran Carroll was joined by Louise Clarke, Teagasc’s Specialised Pig Development Officer at Ballyhaise to find out more. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

What you need to know about African Swine Fever Jul 03, 2020

Show notes

Anyone with an interest in the pig industry is well aware of African Swine Fever (ASF) and the threat it poses to the pig sector. On this episode of the Pig Edge, Amy Quinn speaks to Eithne White, Veterinary Inspector from the National Disease Control Centre at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, to get an overview, update and general advice on ASF. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

How and why ‘evenitis’ could be costing producers Jun 19, 2020

Show notes

Pig Farmers can often spend a considerable amount of time grading and sorting pigs throughout the production stages, but in this episode of the Pig Edge, Specialised Pig Advisor Michael McKeon talks to Amy Quinn to discuss why this well-meant practice might in some cases be costing producers. Michael first coined the term “Evenitis” to best describe this practice at the 2015 Teagasc Pig Farmers conference and he tells us that this issue hasn’t gone away. Michael firstly takes us through what exactly Evenitis is and details the main issues associated with repeated mixing or regrading of pigs. Michael discusses the problem areas as well as best practices to operate by in the farrowing, weaner and finisher houses. He also has some tips for farmers who have weight variation in pens approaching sale. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Seasonal infertility in pig production Jun 05, 2020

Show notes

Head of Knowledge Transfer for the Teagasc Pig Development Department, Ciarán Carroll joins Amy Quinn on this episode of The Pig Edge to discuss the topic of seasonal infertility in pig production. Ciarán firstly talks through what exactly seasonal fertility is and how it presents itself. He then discusses what measures pig producers should look at to minimise the potential effects over the coming months. He also touches on some of the most relevant research that has been carried out on the topic. The key message from this episode is that now is the time to do some investigation and to plan ahead to best prevent or mitigate the effects of seasonal infertility. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Antimicrobial use and resistance in pig production May 22, 2020

Show notes

The topical area of antimicrobial use and resistance in pig production is covered by Amy Quinn on the latest Pig Edge podcast with Teagasc PhD student Lorcan O’Neill.

Firstly Lorcan gives an overview of his study which looked at antimicrobial usage on Irish pig farms. He then discusses where the Irish pig industry stands in comparison to other countries in terms of measuring antimicrobial usage at farm level.

Lorcan also touches on the new EU regulations governing antibiotic use which will be coming into effect in 2022.

He then takes us through his study looking at antimicrobial resistance. Lorcan shares some of the main considerations for farmers looking to reduce their use of antibiotics on farm.

To finish up Lorcan briefly discusses the new Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) antimicrobial database for pig producers.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The Key Findings from the 2019 Teagasc National Pig Herd Performance Report May 08, 2020

Show notes

Teagasc Specialised Pig Advisor Ger McCutcheon joins Amy Quinn on the latest episode of the Pig Edge to discuss the newly released Teagasc National Pig Herd Performance Report which outlines the key performance indicators and their trends for the 2019 year.

Ger firstly introduces us to the eProfit Monitor system (ePM) and how it can be used as a useful management tool on pig farms. Ger then highlights the main results and trends, taking us through the 2019 averages for the main key performance indicators for both sow and grower productivity.

He also discusses some of the key differences between the national average figures for 2019 and those of the top 25% and top 10% of herds in relation to sow and grower performance. In addition to the productivity figures, Ger details the main production costs and the differences observed in 2019.

To access the report click here and for the infographic click here

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The PATHSURVPIG project and the true effect of respiratory diseases on pig farms Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

Teagasc Researcher Maria Costa joins Amy Quinn on this episode of the Pig Edge to discuss the completed PATHSURVPIG project.

This project may be familiar to many as over 60 commercial Irish farms were involved in the project which investigated the extent of respiratory disease on Irish pig farms, associated risk factors, and the relationship with performance, welfare and antimicrobial use.

Firstly, Maria explains what was involved in this project and also discusses the true effect of respiratory diseases on farms.

Maria was largely involved in the cross sectional component of this study in which biosecurity, vaccination, antimicrobial use and feeding practices from about 60 commercial farms was examined and subsequently slaughterhouse examinations looking and lung, heart and liver lesions were collected from a large number of pigs from each of those farms.

Maria takes us through the main findings from this part of the study and takes us through the results which modelled the implications of respiratory disease on production performance.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The WET-FEED Project and how to optimise liquid feeding systems Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

Teagasc Researcher Peadar Lawlor joins Amy Quinn on the first episode of the Pig Edge to discuss the WET-FEED project which is nearing completion, this project looked at optimising liquid feeding for increased growth and improved feed efficiency in grow-finisher pigs.

Firstly, Peadar explains what this project was all about and outlines its main objectives. Peadar also touches on the practice of liquid feeding, in general, its popularity, as well as the main advantages and disadvantages of this system as he sees it.

Peadar brings us through the findings of the work carried out in the Teagasc Pig Research Facility where they compared dry, wet/dry and liquid feeding using a common diet in meal or pelleted form on growth, feed efficiency and carcass quality of grow-finisher pigs.

This project also looked at liquid feeding on a sample of commercial Irish pig farms and Peadar gives us an interesting insight into what this study found on farms. Finally, Peadar gives his thoughts into what feeding system to consider and the circumstances in which to do so if looking at refurbishing or building a new unit.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected